Terms And Conditions


Terms and Conditions for Summer Camps Purchased on ThoughtSTEM.com

These Terms and Conditions apply to all camps operated by ThoughtSTEM, LLC (referred to as "ThoughtSTEM"). By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions and/or registering my student for a ThoughtSTEM program, I assert that I have read all Terms and Conditions and agree to be bound by them.

  1. Payment Policy
      1. If purchasing a summer camp with one of our partners, like the Fleet Science Center, Del Mar Union, La Jolla Country Day School, or the Lawrence Family JCC, our partner's payment policy supersedes this one.
      2. Refunds / Cancellations: The following terms apply for parents who wish to cancel an enrollment for a summer camp:
    • Cancellations prior to April 15, 2019 are not subject to any cancellation fee. Cancellations within 24 hours of purchase also will not be subject to any cancellation fees.
    • On or after April 15, 2019 and at any time 30 days before the 1st camp date, cancellations are subject to a full refund, minus a $25 cancellation fee.
    • Cancellations less than 30 days prior to the start of camp but before 1 week prior to the start of camp will be eligible for a full refund, minus a $50 cancellation fee per camp cancellation.
    • Less than 1 week before the camp start date, due to the administrative and logistical costs associated with registering students at summer camp locations, for each morning camp $150 per student, per camp of the total payment amount will be non-refundable. For each afternoon camp, $120 per student, per camp of the total payment amount will be non-refundable.
    • No refund of a summer camp will be provided after the second meeting of that camp.
    • If a customer has received a discount based on multiple camps purchased (e.g. a bulk discount) and then cancels one or more of those camps, the discount will be reduced to reflect the actual number of camps purchased.
      3. Transferring Enrollments: Pending availability and at ThoughtSTEM's discretion, ThoughtSTEM may allow students to transfer enrollments between summer camps.
      4. Returned Check/Dishonored Transaction Fees: A $25 returned check fee will be assessed for any checks returned or card transactions that are not honored.
      5. Promotions / Discounts: I understand that if I use a promotional discount when registering my student, that I am limited to one discount per checkout, and that the balance must be paid in full at the time of registration to receive the published discount amount. I also agree that all applicable cancellation/refund policies apply, and that all promotional codes must be submitted at the time of registration. I understand that ThoughtSTEM will not honor retroactive adjustments and that the total discounts received cannot exceed the total cost of the products purchased.

  2. Special Accommodations

    If your student requires any special accommodations in order to participate in ThoughtSTEM activities, you must call ThoughtSTEM at 858-869-9430, no less than three weeks prior to your student’s first day of camp. ThoughtSTEM will work with you to identify available reasonable accommodations. If your student requires an aide at school then he/she will need to be accompanied by an aide at the ThoughtSTEM program, and that aide will need to be present for the duration of the session. The aide must be age 18 or older, may not be a family member, and must achieve a favorable result on a criminal background check. They may also be subject to fingerprinting. You will be responsible for all direct costs, including background check processing fees and compensation, for the aide’s attendance.

  3. At Camp Activities
      1. Projects/Take-homes: I understand that depending on the course my student takes, ThoughtSTEM will attempt to send my student home with a working game or project, or post my student’s project to a project website, or send home a product. However, I understand that there will be instances when a project or product cannot be sent home, posted or delivered, and that ThoughtSTEM is not responsible if the game, project, or product do not work properly, or are not compatible with systems outside of camp. Therefore, I release ThoughtSTEM from any responsibility for failure to provide a copy of the project, or a non-functioning/non-compatible/non-complete games, projects, or product. ThoughtSTEM staff will attempt to provide each participant with their completed project at the conclusion of each session and provide products (if applicable) at the end or any other time during the session. Refunds will not be issued for not receiving products, or being provided a copy of the project, and/or non-functioning/non-compatible/non-complete projects, or products. I also agree that all projects and work created while at ThoughtSTEM may be used by ThoughtSTEM in promotional materials, online, and other print media and may be shared and used by corporate partners, the media, or other organizations who work with ThoughtSTEM. I agree that ThoughtSTEM, its owners, agents, partners, facility providers, and employees cannot be held liable for damages and injuries associated with said publishing, including any and all claims based on negligence. I understand that if I have issues with a product, I must contact the manufacturer directly.
      2. Software Accounts: I understand that some ThoughtSTEM programs require creation or use of an online account during instructional time, or will require an online account to be created for access to games and networked gameplay. I give consent for ThoughtSTEM to create account(s) as needed for my student to participate in ThoughtSTEM program activities.
      3. Inappropriate Web Content: I understand that ThoughtSTEM makes every reasonable effort to prevent participants from being exposed to inappropriate web content. As a safeguard, ThoughtSTEM regularly monitors the web content its students are accessing. I agree that no safeguard method is 100% perfect, and that my student may inadvertently access some inappropriate content even though ThoughtSTEM takes reasonable precautions to guard against inappropriate material being viewed. I understand that if inappropriate content is viewed, ThoughtSTEM staff will follow standard protocol and agree that if my student is found in violation of the Code of Conduct set out above, my student may be removed from a program without receiving a refund.

  4. Pick-up/Drop-off Policies
      1. Student Pick-up After Camp: Because we want student pick-up after class/camp to be as seamless as possible, we generally do not check parent IDs at student pick-up. However, ThoughtSTEM instructors always ensure that students go home with an adult they know - whether that may be a mom, dad, grandparent, or a friend's parent who is managing the carpool that day. For this reason, there's no need to inform us in advance about carpools. However, if you have any concerns with your student's ability to recognize the adult picking them up OR if there are certain adults who are not allowed to pick upyour child, please email us at contact@thoughtstem.com with a list of adults who are allowed or not allowed to pick-up your student. For students who have adults listed as "allowed" or "not allowed", we will check IDs of adults at pick-up and if a disallowed adult or an adult not listed as allowed tries to pick up your student, we will keep your student with us and try to reach you by phone for confirmation. (Note: in this unlikely situation, if we are unable to reach you by phone, you may incur late pick-up fees - see the late pick-up policy for more information.)
      2. Late Pick-up: If you’re running late, please give us a call at 858–869–9430 so we can tell our staff that you are on your way. Parents who are late to pick-up their student will be charged a fee. This fee is $15 for every 15 minute period that passes since class has ended. For example, if class ends at 2:55pm, and a parent arrives to pick up their student at 3:10pm (15 minutes late), the card on file will be charged a $15 fee. (And if there is no card on file, an invoice for $15 will be sent.) If class ends at 2:55pm, and a parent arrives to pick up their student at 3:25 (30 minutes late), the parent will be charged $30, etc. For parents who are consistently 5–14 minutes late for pick-up after more than 1 warning, ThoughtSTEM may begin charging pro-rated late pick-up fees (i.e. $10 for 10 minutes, $14 for 14 minutes.) If a parent would prefer for their student to be self-dismissed or dismissed to an extended daycare program on campus, please inform our staff at contact@thoughtstem.com at the time of registration. Without additional direction from parents regarding their students’ dismissal, we always make student safety a priority, and we will wait with your child until your child is picked up or until we have verbal or written confirmation from the parent to release their child.

  5. Behavior Policy

    6. ThoughtSTEM reserves the right to remove a student from coding camp that exhibits disruptive or unsafe behavior. ThoughtSTEM will always work with parents to the best of our ability to resolve behavioral issues so that all students can get the most from our camp, but if disruptive or unsafe behavior continues, ThoughtSTEM may choose to remove a student from a camp. In this unlikely situation, ThoughtSTEM also reserves the right to determine the amount of any refund provided.

  6. Personal Technology Policy

    7. We provide all the technological equipment that students need for our camp. Furthermore, we want to make sure our students are able to learn in a distraction-free environment, so we encourage to leave their cell phones, laptops, and other devices at home. However, if you would like your child to have their cell phone, smart watch, or other communication device with them at camp for emergency purposes, these devices should be powered off and left in a backpack during the camp day. If you ever need to contact your child during the camp day, please call our main office at 858-869-9430 or email us at contact@thoughtstem.com, and we will pass on information or connect you with your child as needed.

  7. Opt-in to Phonecalls & Non-Automated Texts

    8. By providing us with your phone number at registration, you give ThoughtSTEM permission to call and/or text you regarding the program your student is currently enrolled in, as well as reminders about upcoming programs. Parents should expect to receive no more than 2 texts per month about upcoming programs, and can expect closer to 0–1 text per month on average. Parents can opt-out of texts at any time by emailing us at contact@thoughtstem.com.

  8. Release of Liability

    ON BEHALF OF MY SON/DAUGHTER/WARD, I, THE PARENT/GUARDIAN, IN EXCHANGE FOR THE RIGHT OF MY SON/DAUGHTER/WARD TO PARTICIPATE IN THOUGHTSTEM PROGRAM(S), HEREBY RELEASE THOUGHTSTEM, LLC, ITS OWNERS, AGENTS, PARTNERS, FACILITY PROVIDERS AND EMPLOYEES FROM LIABILITY (INCLUDING CLAIMS BASED UPON NEGLIGENCE) FOR ANY AND ALL DAMAGES OR INJURIES TO MY SON/DAUGHTER/WARD OR DAMAGE OF ANY PERSONAL PROPERTY. I AGREE TO BE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL SUCH DAMAGES OR INJURIES WHICH MAY RESULT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM ANY NEGLIGENT ACTS OR ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THOUGHTSTEM, LLC. HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM NOT RELEASING THOUGHTSTEM, LLC, ITS OWNERS, AGENTS, PARTNERS, FACILITY PROVIDERS, AND EMPLOYEES FROM GROSS NEGLIGENCE, RECKLESS CONDUCT OR INTENTIONALLY TORTIOUS CONDUCT. TO THE EXTENT THIS RELEASE CONFLICTS WITH STATE/PROVINCIAL LAW GOVERNING RELEASES, THIS RELEASE IS TO BE GIVEN THE FULLEST FORCE AND EFFECT PERMITTED UNDER STATE/PROVINCIAL LAW. SHOULD ANY PART OF THIS CONTRACT BE FOUND INVALID OR NOT ENFORCEABLE BY A COURT OF LAW, THEN THE REMAINING PORTION SHALL CONTINUE TO BE VALID AND IN FORCE.

  9. Indemnification Agreement

    I agree to defend, indemnify, and hold ThoughtSTEM, LLC, its officers, directors, employees, and agents, harmless from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, arising out of or in any way connected with my student’s participation in an ThoughtSTEM program.

  10. Arbitration Agreement

    I agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, my student's participation at a program run by ThoughtSTEM, LLC, or otherwise arising between the parties, including, without limitation, any students statutorily created or protected rights, as permitted by applicable state/provincial or federal laws, may be settled by arbitration in the state/province and county in which the camp is held, in accordance with the Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The prevailing party in the arbitration shall be entitled to recover expenses including costs and reasonable attorney's fees associated therewith. Should any part of this contract be found invalid or not enforceable by a court of law, then the remaining portion shall continue to be valid and in force. I hereby acknowledge that I understand the terms of this ARBITRATION AGREEMENT, and agree to comply with all of its terms and provisions.

  11. Rights Reserved

    ThoughtSTEM, LLC reserves the right to update or modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. We reserve the right to cancel a camp if participation numbers are not adequate. In the case where a suitable ThoughtSTEM replacement week is not found, a full refund will be issued. On rare occasions, the software and hardware we use at our programs may change without notice, and we will strive to find suitable software and hardware alternatives.